Earth Day Accomplishments to Remember

Earth Day 2025 is April 22! This year’s theme is “Our Power, Our Planet,” emphasizing a call to triple global renewable energy generation by 2030 through solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal and geothermal power. But let’s take a step back to see where the #environmental movement has been in its 55-year history.

While it may be difficult to believe in today’s political environment, the idea behind Earth Day is credited to Sen. Gaylord Nelson (R-Wis.). He enlisted the help of campus activist Denis Hayes to bring grass-roots energy and involvement to #conservation. They choose April 22 — a weekday between spring break and final exams — to maximize student participation.

When they named the new event Earth Day, it attracted widespread media attention. More than 20 million Americans — 10% of the total U.S. population at the time — participated in the first Earth Day in 1970 to demonstrate against the environmental impacts of industrial development and #pollution. The modern environmental movement was born.

The initial Earth Days led quickly to the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The growing movement inspired similar legislation worldwide, and the United Nations chose Earth Day 2016 to sign the Paris Climate Agreement.

Now the world’s largest annual civic event, Earth Day has championed #climate literacy and education throughout the world. EarthDay.org initiatives have helped plant hundreds of millions of trees, spread #sustainable agricultural practices to small farms, and reduced plastic pollution in waterways.

This Earth Day and every day, you can find ways in which you and your family can #reduce, #reuse and #recycle to lower your personal impact on the #environment. One way is to #donate the things you don’t need to ClothingDonations.org to keep more high-quality, used #stuff out of landfills.

And to join in protecting the planet, participate in an Earth Day 2025 event near you!

The Meaning Behind Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras — a.k.a. Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday — is the final day of the Carnival festival season. In the Christian tradition, Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, a penitential season of abstinence and sacrifice.

Mardi Gras is the “last hurrah,” in effect, before 40 days of abstinence from foods such as meat, eggs, dairy and alcoholic beverages. Most people are familiar with the local fish fry on Fridays, held to serve Catholic families and others abstaining from meat.

Observant Christians also often pick an indulgence of their own to give up. Similar to a New Year’s resolution, such personal challenges might mean eschewing alcohol or sweets, or trying to break a bad habit such as smoking or gossiping.

Whatever your faith, the Organizing Blog suggests that you spend the season abstaining from #clutter. It will be a test of your will, to be sure, but you will be better off and maybe even a bit more righteous if you can do it. Here’s how:

Cut the clutter. Over the next 40 days, dedicate a set amount of time to #decluttering and #organizing a space in your home. As little as 10 minutes per day spent rearranging a drawer or shelf can add up to real improvements over time.

Avoid spending. If you want a real challenge, simultaneously abstain from buying anything new; any attempt to #organize will be easier if you don’t add to your #stuff. If something urgently needs replacement, vow to eliminate twice as many like items as you bring in.

Exercise charity. Set aside any castoff clothing and household items that might have some useful life left in them and contact ClothingDonations.org for a #free #donation #pickup. Quality, lightly used goods will be resold to benefit programs that help the nation’s #veterans.

Today, celebrate! Have a paczki, a big bowl of gumbo or an adult beverage. Tomorrow, make good on your vow get rid of #clutter and get #orgnaized. By the time Easter rolls around, you and your home will be unburdened by excess #stuff.

Decorating to Be Clutter-Free

The first step in #decorating a room that’s #clutter-free in the long term is to pick a good paint color, says The Simplicity Habit — a calm tone if you need a space to relax or a more vibrant one if you want to feel energized. Less is more when it comes to artwork; better one large piece than a mishmash “gallery wall.” A right-sized rug really can tie the room together, along with pillows and throws. Be patient when decorating; find the colors you like and the pieces you want rather than decorating for decorating’s sake, and you’ll be happier with the end result. #DeclutteringDécor

Declutter to Decorate a Space You Love

It’s difficult to create a living space that you love, says The Décor Fix. The problem is usually “trying to add to your space without first subtracting.” If you’re serious about #decorating, you first have to #declutter. Eliminate any unwanted or unnecessary items — anything that you no longer like or wouldn’t notice missing. Once you get these things out of the way, you should be better able to display the #stuff you do like, giving it an opportunity to shine. You might even feel more calm if you reveal a little bit of white space on your walls and some room on your side tables. #DeclutteringDécor

Store Your Seasonal Décor Items Sensibly

Do you like your home’s décor to match the seasons? You aren’t alone, but all of those time-specific decorative items take up space, whether on #display or in #storage. To head off #clutter, get #organized and save time, sort seasonal décor items into dedicated, labeled storage boxes as you remove them from display suing a “move-out” method, says Apartment Therapy. Remove every item that doesn’t fit the incoming theme and assess whether any items “need repair, replacement or retirement.” #Store the things you plan to #reuse and #donate any lightly used items you no longer need to ClothingDonations.org. #DeclutteringDécor